Louisville, situated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, holds the distinction of being the largest city in the state, the sixth-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 28th most populous city in the United States. The city also serves as the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, situated on the Indiana border.
Founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark, Louisville takes its name from King Louis XVI of France and is one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachians. The settlement first grew as a portage site, with the nearby Falls of Ohio being the only major obstruction to river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico.Today, Louisville is recognized for its numerous landmarks, including the Kentucky Derby, the University of Louisville and its Cardinals, Muhammad Ali, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and three of Kentucky's six Fortune 500 companies: Humana, Kindred Healthcare, and Yum!
